Steve Clarke: “There is a possibility Peter Odemwingie staying at the club."

West Bromwich Albion: Steve Clarke says Peter Odemwingie could still have a long-term future at the Baggies

Steve Clarke says the door has been left open for Peter Odemwingie to see out the final year of his Albion contract.

The Nigeria international’s Albion career looked in doubt following his recent transfer saga.

The
31-year-old took to Twitter in a bid to force through a move to Queens Park Rangers at the end of the January transfer window.

The move failed to materialise but he was expected to leave this summer due to the severity of the fall-out.

However,
Clarke is not ruling out the possibility of the striker staying into next season, despite Odemwingie claiming six weeks ago that he was expecting to move on during the close season. When asked about Odemwingie’s recent comments on his future, Clarke joked: “That is a question for Peter, not for me – if you drop him a tweet maybe he’ll answer. I haven’t had that conversation with Peter. Yes he could have a future beyond the summer. He has a year left on his contract.

“Things happen and life moves on – that’s the world. It happens in life and in sport.

“There is a possibility (of him staying) but I haven’t spoken to him. He’s still trying to get back into the team.

“He is under contract to the club for another year.

“I’ve
been asked whether there is a chance he could stay beyond the summer and obviously I say yes because he has a year left on his contract.”

Clarke is confident the player’s relationship with fans will continue to improve.

West Bromwich Albion striker Peter Odemwingie

He
added: “Everyone knows the Peter incident happened but it’s past for us
and we have all moved on from it and I look forward to his contribution
for the rest of the season.

“Peter and I have a good relationship.

“I think he is a good talent and I look forward to him making a good contribution for the rest of the season.

“He has been match fit for a couple of weeks. He is a naturally fit athlete.”

Clarke
has a doubt over Shane Long for tomorrow’s visit of Swansea, but is expected to have an otherwise fit squad to choose from.

* ALBION have announced a turnover of £66.7million for the year ending June 30, 2012 after announcing their figures yesterday.

That figure includes £49.9million from TV rights, £7.9million from gate receipts and £5.6million from commercial income.

Albion
made an operating profit (before profit on disposal of player registrations) of £6.5million with that proft figure dropping to £1.4million after player value write downs and trading was taken into account.